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Eastern Musk Turtle vs. Common Box Turtle

The shell pattern: Eastern Musk Turtle — plain, no pattern; Common Box Turtle — irregular yellow or orange blotches. The head marks: Eastern Musk Turtle — two pale stripes, above and below the eye; Common Box Turtle — yellow or orange spots or plain. The underside: Eastern Musk Turtle — small, cross-shaped, lots of skin showing; Common Box Turtle — hinged across the middle — it can close up.

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Eastern Musk Turtle

Sternotherus odoratus

Common Box Turtle

Terrapene carolina
Eastern Musk Turtle vs. Common Box Turtle: comparison sheet with the differences marked

Photographs via iNaturalist under Creative Commons licences; the photographers are credited on the sheet.

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